Find a Cigna Psychiatrist

How Cigna Mental-Health Coverage Works

Cigna covers mental health care across its employer plans, Marketplace plans, and Medicare Advantage options, with costs that depend on your specific plan type.

For most employer-based or Marketplace PPO/HMO plans, in-network therapy sessions typically run $0–$40 per visit. There isn’t a separate mental health deductible—your visits share the same deductible and cost structure as your regular medical care.

If you’re on a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) with an HSA, coverage is the same but the timing is different. You’ll pay the full contracted rate until your deductible is met, then usually 20% coinsurance, followed by $0–$40 per visit once your cost share kicks in.

For those on a Cigna Medicare Advantage plan, mental health coverage is even more streamlined. Many plans charge $0 for virtual therapy sessions and about $15–$40 for in-person visits. A lot of plans advertise $0 MDLIVE video therapy or psychiatry appointments, making it easy to get quick access online.

A few coverage basics apply across Cigna plans:

• Unlimited visits. If therapy is medically necessary, there’s no annual session cap.
• Shared deductible. Mental health visits apply toward the same deductible as your other medical visits.
• Telehealth parity. Virtual visits are often billed the same—or even waived entirely. Many Cigna members pay $0 for MDLIVE sessions.
• Referrals. PPOs and most Open Access HMOs don’t require a referral. Only some gatekeeper HMOs may ask for a note from your primary care provider first.

Types of Mental-Health Providers in network with Cigna

Cigna contracts with a wide range of mental health professionals, including:

• Therapists and counselors (LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCs), who provide weekly talk therapy for stress, anxiety, depression, and life transitions.
• Psychologists (PhD or PsyD), who can deliver therapy but also specialize in psychological testing and advanced treatment approaches such as EMDR or DBT.
• Psychiatrists (MDs or DOs), who focus on diagnosis and medication management, and are often involved in more complex or medical-heavy cases.

Tip: Many members get the best results by combining care—for example, weekly sessions with a therapist plus quarterly check-ins with a psychiatrist, all covered under Cigna’s network.

Real-Life Use Case: How Maya Found a Therapist That Takes Cigna

Maya, a 33-year-old software engineer in Seattle, felt rising anxiety after a company downsizing. Here’s her 11-day journey:

1. Day 1 – Portal Login
   Maya opens myCigna.com → “Find Care & Costs” → “Behavioral Health.”
   
   
2. Day 1 – Smart Match
   The directory’s SmartMatch recommends five therapists that take Cigna within five miles, each tagged “Accepting new patients.”
   
   
3. Day 2 – Cost Check
   Using the estimator, she confirms her mid-tier PPO charges $25 per in-office session—or $0 for MDLIVE video.
   
   
4. Day 3 – First Video Visit
   She books a same-week slot with Jordan Kim, LCSW—an in-network Cigna therapist specializing in CBT for anxiety.
   
   
5. Day 10 – Medication Consult
   Jordan suggests a low-dose SSRI. Maya schedules a 30-minute tele-psychiatry visit with a Cigna psychiatrist for the next day (also $0).
   
   

Total time from search to session: under two weeks, no out-of-pocket cost.

Step-by-Step: Booking Therapy Through Cigna

1. Log in to myCigna or the Cigna app. Tap Find Care → Behavioral Health.
   
   
2. Filter. Choose “virtual” or “in-person,” specialty (trauma, couples, ADHD), language, evening hours.
   
   
3. Confirm cost. Click “Estimate costs” under each listing to see your exact copay or coinsurance.
   
   
4. Book an appointment. For MDLIVE slots, scheduling happens inside the portal. For local offices, call the number listed.
   
   
5. Complete pre-visit forms. Some clinicians send digital intake packets; fill them out to avoid delays.

In-Network vs. Out-of-Network: What to Know

With Cigna, you’ll almost always save money and avoid hassle by staying in-network. In-network providers give you predictable copays or coinsurance, and your claims are filed automatically. Your care is also integrated with Cigna’s case-management team, which helps coordinate services and keep everything streamlined.

Going out-of-network can give you a wider choice of specialists—sometimes helpful if you need a niche therapy or faster access—but it comes with trade-offs. If you’re on a PPO plan, you’ll typically pay the provider in full up front and then submit a claim for partial reimbursement. If you have a Cigna HMO or Open Access Plus (OAP) plan, out-of-network services generally aren’t covered at all, except in emergencies.

Tip: If you can’t find an in-network appointment within 10 business days, ask Cigna for a “network deficiency exception.” Under federal parity rules, Cigna may authorize you to see an out-of-network clinician at the in-network rate—helping you get timely care without paying extra.

Digital & Telehealth 

Cigna offers several digital and telehealth tools that make it easier to access mental health care from home or on the go.

MDLIVE for Cigna gives you access to licensed therapists and psychiatrists through secure video visits, available from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Costs are usually between $0 and $40 per session, and many plans waive the copay entirely. This option is available to members in employer, Marketplace, and Medicare Advantage plans.

For more self-guided support, Cigna also partners with platforms like Happify and iPrevail, which offer on-demand CBT modules and coaching. These programs are free ($0) for most members enrolled through employer plans and can be used anytime.

If your plan includes a Work-Life Employee Assistance Program (EAP), you may qualify for 3–5 free counseling sessions per issue. These sessions don’t require a claim and are fully confidential. EAPs are included with many fully insured Cigna plans, making them a great way to get short-term support or bridge the gap while waiting for ongoing therapy.

Tip: Telehealth sessions count the same as office visits for insurance purposes. They apply toward any visit limits your plan may have and count against your deductible if one applies—so you’ll never pay more for choosing video over in-person care.

Cost & Coverage 

How much you’ll pay for therapy or psychiatry under Cigna depends on your plan type, but most members find costs predictable and manageable.

If you’re on an employer-based or Marketplace PPO/HMO plan, in-person therapy sessions (about 45 minutes) usually run $0 to $40 per visit. For a more detailed initial psychiatric evaluation, expect a copay in the range of $30 to $60.

With a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), the coverage is the same but the timing is different—you’ll pay the contracted rate in full until your deductible is met. After that, therapy and psychiatric services are typically billed at 20% coinsurance, and then drop to the same $0–$40 copay range as standard PPO/HMOs.

For Cigna Medicare Advantage members, therapy sessions usually cost about $15 to $40 per visit, while psychiatric evaluations are around $20 to $50. Virtual visits through MDLIVE are often free, with many plans advertising $0 copays for both therapy and psychiatry.

Tip: If the first provider you see doesn’t feel like the right fit, you can switch to another Cigna in-network therapist or psychiatrist at any time. It’s penalty-free, and there’s no need to explain—finding the right match is part of the process.

Advocating for Yourself When Wait Times Are Long

• Document Calls. Note name, date, and “next available appointment.”
  
  
• Ask for Care Coordination. Cigna’s Behavioral Health Concierge can hunt for cancellations.
  
  
• Request Network-Deficiency Approval. If no slot within 10 business days, you can see an outside clinician at in-network rates.
  
  
• Escalate. File a grievance through myCigna; state law often requires a response in 30 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Cigna cover therapy?
Yes. Outpatient therapy with in-network licensed clinicians is a core medical benefit; typical copay $0–$40 or 20 % coinsurance after deductible.

How do I find therapists that take Cigna near me?
Log into myCigna → Find Care & Costs → Behavioral Health and filter by zip code, specialty, and availability.

What’s the difference between a Cigna therapist and a Cigna psychologist?
“Therapist” is an umbrella term (LCSW, LMFT, LPC). “Psychologist” means a PhD/PsyD who can conduct testing and advanced modalities. Both are Cigna mental health providers if enrolled.

Are psychiatrists that take Cigna accepting new patients?
Many are, especially via MDLIVE. Use the “Accepting new patients” filter and consider virtual appointments.

Does Cigna mental health coverage include telehealth?
Most plans waive or reduce copays for MDLIVE therapy and psychiatry through 2025.